WHL U.S. Prospects Camp

Calgary, AB - The Western Hockey League will be hosting the seventh annual WHL U.S. Prospects Camp in Anaheim, California at the Anaheim Ice facility from April 12-14, 2013.

The WHL U.S. Prospects Camp provides a unique opportunity for U.S. born hockey players to participate with other top ranked 1998 born players in the only evaluation camp conducted by the Western Hockey League in the U.S. this season. The WHL is the largest Major Junior Hockey League in North America and is a leading supplier of player talent to the National Hockey League. Virtually all of the WHL’s 22 Member Clubs will have scouts in attendance to evaluate player’s ability to play in one of the world’s finest development League for junior aged players.

“The WHL U.S. Prospects Camp provides our WHL Clubs with the opportunity to evaluate top prospects from throughout the western United States who are eligible for this year’s WHL Bantam Draft,” commented WHL Commissioner Ron Robison, “It is important we provide these young prospects every opportunity to learn more about the benefits of playing in the Western Hockey League, including details on our WHL Scholarship Program.”

The WHL U.S. Prospects Camp is open only to U.S. Residents born in 1998, who live in the Western United States (all U.S. States west of the Mississippi River and Alaska). Of the over 40 U.S. born players currently on WHL rosters, many attended a WHL U.S. Prospects Camp.

WHL Head Coaches will run the benches of each camp team. In past year the camp has featured Don Hay (Vancouver Giants) Mike Williamson (Calgary Hitmen) and Derek Laxdal (Edmonton Oil Kings). Current California born WHL players will also attend the camp, serving as assistant coaches during the weekend. Current Kamloops Blazer Chase Souto (Yorba Linda, CA) and graduate player Parker Stanfield (Orange County, CA/Everett Silvertips) have acted as assistant coaches.

The WHL U.S. Prospect Camp also features a WHL Prospects Information Session, where players and their families will learn about the benefits of playing Major Junior hockey in Canada. In past seasons guest speakers have included former Kamloops Blazers’ Scott Neidermeyer and Darcy Tucker, and graduate Edmonton Oil King Tyler Maxwell.

For those players who were invited to participate in this year’s camp, please complete the Player Registration Form and submit it to the WHL Office:

Team rosters, finalized schedules, and other camp information will become available in the near future.

THE FOLLOWING IS BACKGROUND ON THE WESTERN HOCKEY LEAGUE (WHL)

Established in 1966 and now in its 47th season, the WHL is the world’s finest development League for players in the junior age (Under 21) category.

The WHL currently consists of 22 member franchises – five in the U.S. (Portland, Oregon; Seattle, Spokane, Everett and Tri-City; Washington) and 17 in Western Canada.

The WHL is a member of the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) whose membership is comprised of three Major Junior hockey leagues: Ontario Hockey League (OHL), Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) and the Western Hockey League (WHL). At the conclusion of each League’s playoffs, the CHL hosts the Memorial Cup. A National Championship tournament involving each of the League’s Champion and the tournament host.

The WHL and the Canadian Hockey League level of play – Major Junior – is classified as the top category of hockey in the Canadian system.

The WHL has been a leading supplier to the NHL for over 40 years, including 6 first round draft picks in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft. This season (2012-13) over 20% of NHL players are WHL graduates. Over 55% of NHL players got their start playing Major Junior hockey in the CHL

Many of the top NHL players in the game today got their start in the WHL including Ryan Getzlaf (Anaheim Ducks); Shea Weber (Nashville Predators); Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (Edmonton Oilers); Marian Hossa (Chicago Blackhawks); and Milan Lucic (Boston Bruins); along with American products Dustin Byfuglien (Winnipeg Jets) and Peter Mueller (Colorado Avalanche).

A number of U.S. players are the WHL’s biggest stars including Shane McColgan (Manhattan Beach, CA/Kelowna Rockets) Seth Jones (Plano, TX/Portland Winterhawks) and Eric Comrie (Newport Beach, CA/Tri-City Americans). All chose to play in the WHL as it offers the best education and professional hockey opportunities.

Currently WHL rosters (23 players per Club on average) consist primarily of players from Western Canada. In addition to American-born players, the WHL permits each Club to have two (2) European import players on their active rosters.

There currently are 41 U.S. players participating in the WHL during the 2012-13 season.

The WHL Scholarship program is the finest in North America. For every season a player plays in the WHL, they receive a full year guaranteed Scholarship, which includes tuition, textbooks and compulsory fees to post-secondary institution of their choice. Each year, the WHL awards over 400 scholarships to current and graduate players. In addition, while playing in the WHL, players receive financial assistance for education expenses such as high school tutoring or fees for post-secondary courses, to ensure players reach their academic potential.

This WHL season (2012-13), there are 34 U.S. born players on WHL Rosters:

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